It's 9AM
If you know who these folks are, you are my people.
Tough Times All Around
Jake watched the furtive man scurry from the far side of the bar and pause by the two top near the door.
One of Dionte’s men sat there, a black athletic bag in the high backed chair against the wall.
Dionte gave the man a signal.
Jake saw a large long fingered hand dip into the bag, pull out a roll of cash wrapped in large rubber bands and hand it to the furtive man.
The recipient bowed and scraped as he backed away, slipping the money roll into his pocket.
He glanced at Dionte and nodded, mouthed the words “Thank you,” and left.
“Are you expanding into the money lending business?” Jake took a long sip of smooth whiskey and contemplated his cowboy wearing hat associate on the stool next to him.
“Always been in the lending bidness, Lawyer Man,” the big black man smiled and took a sip from a sweating beer bottle. “Tough times out there for the hard working black man.”
“Tough times all around,” Jake said and the two friends toasted.
Jake swallowed down the rest of his drink and set the empty close to the inside edge of the bar where he knew Amanda, the beautiful bar owner, tender and hamburger provider would notice the lack of contents and fill for him.
“Filling a need in the community,” said Dionte. “Folks is underserved in that particular capacity.”
Jake snorted.
“Much like the patrons of this bar.”
Amanda strolled over with a bottle of brown liquor in her hand and dropped three fingers into his glass, judging with an experienced eye.
“The state has rules about over serving,” she smarted off. “That mouth might push you over the limit.”
“I recant, retract and apologize,” Jake rescued his now new drink from the inside edge of the bar and sampled a sip just to be sure the vintage was correct.
“What kind of rates are you charging?” he asked Dionte.
“The kind you can’t afford, my friend.”
“I don’t know,” said Jake. “I may not be looking to borrow. That whole art auction left me flush, and before I flush this windfall down the toilet, I figure I could expand my money making horizons.”
The tall black man studied him for a few moments.
“You looking to invest in my money lending venture, Lawyer Man.”
“I mean, if you’ve got the need. I gave some to your cousin to get a few buildings up the block, but if you listen to the news, cash sitting in the bank is losing money every day.”
Dionte nodded.
“Least the bank is willing to give you the time of day. They don’t like my ill gotten gains. Man just out here trying to make a living and rules and regulations got me stuffing my mattress.”
He finished off his beer.
“Figuratively, I mean.”
“I assumed,” said Jake.
“Yeah, Lawyer Man, I think an influx of your capital would let me help a few more of my folks.”
“You could start a bank,” said Amanda from the far end of the bar.
“Ain’t no bank gonna let me start a bank.”
She shrugged.
“I don’t know. I’ve got a cousin in Jackson who did it. Started a bank so they could fund real estate.”
“That legal?” Dionte asked Jake.
It was his turn to shrug.
He took a sip of whiskey to consider.
“They have to start somewhere,” he finally answered. “I bet it’s just a lot of paperwork.”
“All that legal mumbo jumbo right up your alley. Like the contract’s you made for Po’s.”
Jake sighed.
“You had to mention his sauce,” he said and rubbed his stomach.
“What’s the matter,” Amanda smiled. “My cheeseburgers aren’t our slice of paradise.”
Jake grinned.
“Man does not live by the patty alone,” he said. “Sometimes he needs ribs and a hot link.”
“Let’s go get some then,” said Dionte. “We can talk about your money and my money on the way. You gonna have to wait in the car while we’re there though.”
Jake finished off his drink, made a swirling motion with his finger that some might interpret as “put it on my tab” and waved at Amanda as he followed Dionte out of the bar.
The man beside the door passed over the bag as they walked by and the tall black man tucked it under his arm.
I put an original story up on YOUTUBE for you, but there’s no voiceover. You have to read it!
Doing this gave me an idea for the coming six weeks of winter- BEDTIME STORIES. Do you read every night before bed? You should.
I added a few books to Google Play and other platforms:
Check out: Guns and Magic
PLUS
Did you see the Stanley Cup Craze?
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